Publisher's Synopsis
"I coulda been a contender", Molotov cocktail, catch-22, Beatrice. Our language is full of allusions, terms, names, and phrases that have been shorthand for certain attributes or circumstances. This dictionary explains the current meanings and original contexts of more than 1500 allusions of the past millennium drawn from history, literature, art, and mass culture.;Sample entries include: apple pie - an American dish that has become a metaphor for American values; K-Mart - the name of this department store chain has become a symbol of bargain-basement products; and Wall Street - the location of the Stock Exchange brings to mind huge financial deals, insider trading and greed.
